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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Indicating speed.






2. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






3. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






4. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






5. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






6. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






7. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






8. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






9. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






10. A short or brief sonata.






11. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






12. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






13. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






14. To shift to another key.






15. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






16. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






17. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






18. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






19. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






20. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






21. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






22. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






23. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






24. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






25. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






26. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






27. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






28. The structure of a piece of music.






29. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






30. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






31. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






32. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






33. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






34. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






35. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






36. Pertains to tone or tones.






37. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






38. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






39. The principal note of a triad.






40. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






41. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






42. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






43. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






44. A direction to play lively and fast.






45. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






46. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






47. A direction to play expressively.






48. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






49. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






50. Lowest female singing voice.